Legwand return gives Trotz options

David Legwand knows his upper body injury could have been worse. Which is why he is grateful that there’s a chance he could return for Saturday’s game against Columbus. He hasn’t played since taking a high and hard hit from Kings forward Dustin Brown on Nov. 8.

“I hope to get back in tomorrow. Guys are getting wins, and that’s what counts here, hopefully we can keep it going tomorrow,” Legwand said today. “It’s one of those things that could have taken a lot longer than it did, but it’s healed up and ready to go.”

Legwand’s possible return gives Coach Barry Trotz some options. He could move Craig Smith to center the third line, or return him to the wing on their second line — which seems unlikely considering that unit with Mike Fisher, Sergei Kostitsyn and Martin Erat combined for seven points in the previous game.

“I can do both, which is a great thing with (Smith),” Trotz said.

Former associate coach Brent Peterson was on the ice, working on face-offs with Nashville’s centers. Peterson used to do this on a regular basis. He is in his first year not on the bench and rarely goes on the ice because of his Parkinson’s disease. “I wanted him to work with the centermen, because he is just a wealth of knowledge,” Trotz said.